Measurement of a World-Wide Transfer Function for Marine Cloud Brightening

Marine cloud brightening with a sub-micron spray of filtered sea water can exploit the Twomey effect to enhance planetary cooling. Several previous climate model results show that it can also affect precipitation in both directions in different places. Modulating the climate model settings for the concentration of cloud condensation nuclei with separate coded sequences in a number of spray regions round the world and correlating each sequence with the resulting weather patterns in observing stations round the world can give an everywhereto- everywhere transfer function of spray from each region to each observing station. The short life of spray allows the best choices of spray regions and seasons. Spray patterns can be modified tactically to suit real-time weather observations.

Can Marine Cloud Brightening Reduce Sea-Surface Temperatures to Moderate Extreme Hurricanes and Typhoons?

Elevated sea-surface temperatures are a necessary but not sufficient requirement for the formation of hurricanes and typhoons. This paper suggests a way to exploit this. Twomey [1] showed that cloud reflectivity depends on the size-distribution of cloud drops, with a large number of small drops reflecting more than a smaller number of larger ones. Mid-ocean air is cleaner than over land. Latham [2-4] suggested that reflectivity of marine stratocumulus clouds could be increased by releasing a submicron spray of filtered sea water into the bottom of the marine boundary layer. The salt residues left after evaporation would be mixed by turbulence through the full depth of the marine boundary layer and would be ideal cloud condensation nuclei. Those that reached a height where the air had a super-saturation above 100% by enough to get over the peak of the Köhler curve would produce an increased number of cloud drops and so trigger the Twomey effect. The increase in reflection from cloud tops back out to space would cool sea-surface water. We are not trying to increase cloud cover; we just want to make existing cloud tops whiter. The spray could be produced by wind-driven vessels cruising chosen ocean regions. The engineering design of sea-going hardware is well advanced. This paper suggests a way to calculate spray quantities and the number and cost of spray vessels to achieve a hurricane reduction to a more acceptable intensity. It is intended to show the shape of a possible calculation with credible if not exact assumptions. Anyone with better assumptions should be able to follow the process.

Note for COP26 on Marine Cloud Brightening

Present policies of most Governments, with a few predictable exceptions, concentrate on the desperate need to get to zero carbon emissions as soon as possible. This is a necessary but not sufficient objective. There is strong evidence from the Keeling curve in figure 1, about the difficulty (Figure 1). Figure 1: But if we could reduce, carbon emissions to zero the concentration of atmospheric greenhouse gases will be what we have now plus what we will be emitting between now and the zero-emission date minus the amount taken up by the oceans. This means that typhoons, floods, droughts, bushfires, sea-level rise, Arctic ice loss and damage to coral will all be worse, perhaps much worse than now. If you think that present conditions are not acceptable you have to conclude that zero is not low enough. As well as reducing emissions we will HAVE TO remove greenhouse gases, probably with help from phytoplankton, and also do direct cooling a soon as we can and hopefully ramp it down as emissions reduce [1].

Occurrence and Distribution of an Invasive Octocoral, Carijoa riisei in Malaysia’s Marine Park of Pulau Payar

The occurrence of the invasive snowflake coral, Carijoa riisei (Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1860) in Malaysian waters was reported after the species was first detected at Pulau Payar Marine Park in 2014. Its recent appearance in Pulau Payar highlights the need for baseline data concerning the distribution pattern and diversity of C. riisei within the Pulau Payar Marine Park and may enable effective remedial actions in controlling the overgrowth of this octocoral. The snowflake coral and other substrates were quantified over quadrats located randomly on a 50 m transects in three study sites, i.e. Coral Garden, Kaca Reef and Lembu Rock. The percent cover of each substrate category and diversity were determined using the Coral Point Count with Excel extensions (CPCe) software. The snowflake coral was most frequently observed at the depths of 10 to 20 m at each of the study sites. The area with highest coverage of this octocoral was in Kaca Reef at the depth of 20m. About one-third of the benthos and abiotic substrate at all sites was populated by C. riisei. Statistically, no significant differences were found between the distributions of C. riisei by sites. Using diversity indices, we were able to demonstrate the ability of this species to exploit a wide range of differing environments. This ability has allowed it to spread within this marine protected area. Based on this study, we suggested monitoring programs should be regularly conducted within Pulau Payar Marine Park, other reefs should be surveyed for its presence, and an effective mitigation program should be developed for the conservation of the marine ecosystems affected by this invasive species.

How to Predict Earthquakes by Using Simple and Reliable Method? Peru, Chile, Italy, Greece, New Zealand, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India

This paper intended to highlight the simple, quick and reliable method to detect impending earthquake�s location. Volcanic eruption precursors are originated only around the volcanos, like that the onshore earthquake precursors are originated only from earthquake epicenter zones. Epicenter zones are earthquake zones, a little variation of fault zone, it comprises movable tectonic plates. Due to the orbital motion of the earth, centrifugal force generated, this centrifugal force is the major driving force of tectonic plates. The position of the orbital motion of the earth generated seasonal variations/atmospheric weather anomalies as onshore earthquake precursors and earthquakes, year after year repeating at same places. The generation process of seasonal weather anomalies is the part of generation process of earthquakes at epicenter zones. Both seasonal weather anomalies and seismic anomalies are not continued all through the year at same places. When earth comes to particular position, tectonic plates of particular epicenter zones are set to more active and becomes unstable epicenter zones, causes identifiable, observable, recordable and testable onshore earthquake precursors 1-15 days prior to earthquakes occur.

Application of Dechlorinated MSWI Fly Ash in Asphalt Mixtures

The application of Municipal Solid Waste Incineration (MSWI) fly ash in asphalt mixtures is an efficient way to utilize fly ash. The feasibility of applying various kinds of dechlorinated fly ash in asphalt mixtures was comprehensively discussed in the study. The effects of types and amounts of dechlorinated fly ash on the performances of prepared asphalt mixtures were explored. Additionally, their environmental risks and economic values were further evaluated. The water absorption coefficient and porosity of fly ash-asphalt mixtures were respectively in the ranges of 0.15-0.5% and 3-4%, which met the application requirements of asphalt. The replacement of Raw Fly Ash (RFA) and Dechlorinated Fly Ash (DFA) improved Marshall stability, split strength, and Tensile Strength Ratio (TSR) of asphalt mixtures. DFA realized the more significant improvements. The leaching concentrations of heavy metals in all the prepared asphalt mixtures were lower than the detection limit, indicating that there was no risk of leaching toxicity.

Pesticides: Undisputed Hazards for Environmental Health

Airborne pesticides are now disseminated over vast regions of the planet even where they were not spilled, remotely from its preceding source. Their deleterious effects have been sensed overwhelmingly increasing all along with the shifts provoked in the nature, fauna, and flora derangements’, regardless from where they come from either disseminated by air or water sources. They will insidiously, gently, or harshly impact the living beings (target and non-target organisms). Their effects will certainly be massive for those exposed and, consequently, at danger of death, extinction, or damage (grow retardation, physiological or behavioural shortages), the most vulnerable and susceptible individuals or species being quenched. The endocrine deleterious responses to adults as compared to the embryonic/fetal/neonatal responses have been described. Changes in the hormonal system development are often irreversible, in contrast to reversible changes induced by the exposure to transient hormones in adults. The toxic effects start as the pesticides get into the lungs or in the equivalent blood-water/air exchanging system. In mammals, birds and reptiles breathed air entering through the noses touch the sinus cavities, it irritates their fragile membranes as, in response, may lead to an inflammation as it also can occur topically. In the pesticides risk assessment, hormesis can have significant practical impact, because this concept assumes the existence of limits for doses higher than the hormetic ones; and its acceptance would therefore erroneously lead to modification in the current practice of cancer risk assessment. Thus, long run health advance may succeed by replacing hazardous pesticides by sustainable biopesticides and along with other non-poisoning methods.

Investigating the Factors Having the Important Role in the Standardization of Herbal Distillates’ Methanol Content

Blurred vision leading to nervous blindness is the only symptom of chronic methanol intoxication that occurs following prolonged drinking some kinds of herbal distillates and has been motivated serious anxieties. The methanol content of these products is not usually measured which may be due to the lack of applicable standards in this regard. In this study, the methanol concentrations of some kinds of herbal distillates were quantified by two different methods to define the most effective factors in the determination of methanol permitted dose of these products. In this study, the methanol contents of 60 different samples were examined by a newly designed kit and Gas Chromatography methods, and finally, based on gained results some recommendations were presented about how standardization of herbal distillates’ methanol content. All samples have different concentrations of methanol that in some cases, their methanol content seems enough for the creation of chronic methanol intoxication. Also, access to an appropriate and efficient national standard for controlling of methanol content of herbal distillates seems to be necessary.

Economic Analysis of Fuel Oil Production from Pyrolysis of Waste Plastic

The Global plastic production has reached up to 300 million tons in 2015, and waste management has become a serious issue especially in middle and low income countries such as Pakistan. Pakistan, which is producing 1.32 million ton/year of plastic waste, is also facing the issue of environmental pollution as well as unadequate waste dumping ability due to surge in urban population. Among various waste management techniques, pyrolysis has been receiving attention because it offers solution to two most critical problems, energy shortage and environmental pollution. The main purpose of this paper is to produce fuel oil by waste plastic through the pyrolysis process and its cost estimation. Waste plastic decomposes in a various fraction of hydrocarbons catalytically at 400oC. These hydrocarbons are separated through distillation columns and phase separators as light and heavy fuel oil and wax. The economic analysis shows that the estimated total capital investment required for a pyrolysis plant is $0.2 million, the estimated total production cost of pyrolysis plant is $1.6 million/year. The results shows that pyrolysis of waste plastic to produce fuel oil can be the viable solution to meet Pakistan’s energy demand as well as to solve waste dumping issue.

Determination of Neonicotinoid Insecticides and their Metabolites, and Strobilurin Fungicides in Atmospheric Particles using Liquid Chromatography-Positive Electrospray Ionization-Tandem Mass Spectrometry

A liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method has been developed for the simultaneous determination of metabolites of neonicotinoid insecticides with neonicotinoid insecticides and strobilurin fungicides in the particle phase fraction of atmospheric samples. Pressurized solvent extraction was used to extract the target analytes from particles collected on glass fiber filters, followed by a C18 SPE cleanup step. Recoveries of 85.9 to 108.3% and relative standard deviation <13% were obtained for all analytes. The method detection limit for metabolites of neonicotinoid insecticides were 0.5-3 ng/ mL (air concentrations of 0.44-2.66 pg/m³). Matrix effects were compensated for using standard addition calibration for quantitation. This paper provides the first detection of desmethyl-thiamethoxam which coincided with higher concentrations of thiamethoxam in atmospheric particles. Other neonicotinoid insecticides and strobilurin fungicides detected in the particle phase in the atmosphere included acetamiprid, clothianidin, imidacloprid, azoxystrobin, kresoxim-methyl, pyraclostrobin, and trifloxystrobin. This research highlights the potential of not only neonicotinoid insecticides and strobilurin fungicides moving in the atmosphere in the particle phase, but also a metabolite of thiamethoxam (desmethyl-thiamethoxam) in a region with orchards and vineyards where foliar applications with air blast sprayers dominate.